Gregory Wanamaker

composer

In Transit features a virtuoso performance of my Sonata deus sax machina by Timothy McAllister and Kathryn Goodson.

“...cutting edge music by Gregory Wanamaker...” – – The Tallahassee Democrat, 22 September 2003 referring to Duo Sonata.

10.29.05

I am advertising my new work as a “wretched piece, but that's okay, because it is satire.” The new work, Nocturne, is composed for the chamber group Conversant who are likely to premiere the piece in March at Converse College in Spartanburg, South Carolina. I will not blame Conversant if they choose not to perform it, nor would I blame an audience for reading, sleeping, or zoning during a performance because it really is a horrid piece. It is so awful, that it reflects most of the new age/easy-listening crap that is aired on PBS - at least up here in the North Country. Luckily, for those audience members who don't bring reading material or homework - it is a college after all - I will provide thorough program notes to get them through. Luckily, I will have such a great group of musicians performing the piece, that for those in the audience who actually like this kind of stuff will hear a fantastic performance of a “wretched piece, but that's okay, because it is satire!”

The date is set! The Ara Saxophone Quartet will present the World Premiere of my new Saxophone Quartet on March 21, 2006 at the Crane School of Music in Potsdam, NY. Ara will follow the premiere with a tour throughout the Northeast at venues in cities including Pittsburgh, PA; Keene, NH; and Fredonia, NY. Stay tuned for more specific dates and venues as they solidify.

San Juan in February is nice, especially if you live in Potsdam, NY. Oboist Aaron Hilbun and flutist Stephanie Rea, a couple of good friends whom I met in Trujillo last summer will perform Triaria at the Southern Chapter of the College Music Society's Regional Conference this February.

I will be returning to Trujillo, Peru this summer with Tim McAllister and Kathryn Goodson who will perform a recital that will include my Sonata deus sax machina and Roshanne Etezady's Street Legal. This program will be presented as part of the Annual Trujillo Bach Festival. More details will follow!

All things involving recording releases typically take much more time than anticipated. So, I am still looking forward to the release of the new and definitive recording of Sonata deus sax machina by Timothy McAllister and Kathryn Goodson. This exciting new cd will also include works by William Albright and Milton Babbitt as well as world premiere recordings of works by Roshanne Etezady and Misha Zupko. The cd titled In Transit will be released by Innova Records soon.

Deborah Bish's upcoming cd release for Mark Records will likely be released soon. This recording will feature Clarikinetics, Sonata for clarinet and piano, Duo Sonata, and Mid-Winter Waking. Other performers on the disc include Patrick Meighan, Valerie Trujillo, and Wanda Brister.

Stay tuned for details about both these fantastic new recordings.

08.18.05

I returned with my family from an incredible trip to Peru a couple of nights ago. What an incredible trip! After 10 days of visiting the rain forest and awe-inspiring ruins including the great Machu Picchu, we spent a wonderful week in Trujillo to hear the premiere of my new work Elegy by the Orquesta Sinfónica de Trujillo under the direction of Jose-Luis Maurtua. This performance opened the concert wrapping up the second week of the 12th Annual Trujillo Bach Festival on August 12, 2005. I was in residence there from August 8-12 and gave a talk on transcriptions of J.S. Bach's works for modern orchestra. I met some great musicians and wonderful people while I was there and heard some marvelous music. Many thanks to Jose Maurtua, Francisco Pereda, and Municipalidad Provincial de Trujillo for their invitations, kindnesses and friendship. I hope to return to Trujillo very soon!

While I was gone, I heard from the Ara Saxophone Quartet who started readings and rehearsals of my new Saxophone Quartet that they commissioned. The tentative premiere date and venue is March 6, 2006 at the Crane School of Music in Potsdam, NY. Ara will tour throughout the spring season with a program featuring this work. Stay tuned for specific dates and venues as they solidify.

I am still looking forward to the release of the new and definitive recording of Sonata deus sax machina by Timothy McAllister and Kathryn Goodson. Tim, engineer John Junklaus and I finished editing the recording at the beginning of April. This exciting new cd will also include works by William Albright and Milton Babbitt as well as world premiere recordings of works by Roshanne Etezady and Misha Zupko. The cd titled American Saxophone will be released by Innova Records later this year. Stay tuned for details regarding its release.

I also anticipate the release of Deborah Bish's upcoming cd release for Mark Records. This recording will feature Clarikinetics, Sonata for clarinet and piano, Duo Sonata, and Mid-Winter Waking. Other performers on the disc include Patrick Meighan, Valerie Trujillo, and Wanda Brister. Again, stay tuned for details.

07.22.05

Summer is flying by! I leave for Peru with my family next week for some rest and relaxation. While there, I will hear the world premiere of my new work Elegy by the Trujillo Symphony Orchestra conducted by Jose-Luis Maurtua. This performance will open the concert wrapping up the second week of the 12th Annual Trujillo Bach Festival on August 12, 2005. I will be in residence there from August 8-12 and will be giving a couple of talks on my own music as well as transcriptions of J.S. Bach's works for modern orchestra. It’s not all work, though! We begin out trip with a 10 day vacation exploring the country including Machu Picchu and the Amazon River Basin where we will hang out with monkeys and macaws.

Of course, I couldn’t leave in good conscience without finishing the Saxophone Quartet commissioned by the Ara Saxophone Quartet. That’s right, it’s done, bound, and sent out! The tentative premiere date and venue is March 6, 2006 at the Crane School of Music in Potsdam, NY. Ara will tour throughout the spring season with a program featuring this work. Stay tuned for specific dates and venues as they solidify.

By the way, congrats to Tim and Roshanne who were be married last month in Philadelphia. I’ve never been to a wedding (and reception) full of composers and saxophonists eager to boogie to Manilow and the Village People. Right on!

06.05.05

Summer is finally here, which means I can return to composing full-time. I am working on a number of projects now including a new work for the Ara Saxophone Quartet. We have set the World Premiere date for March 9, 2006 at the Crane School of Music in Potsdam, NY. Ara will tour throughout the spring season with a program featuring this work. Stay tuned for specific dates and venues as they solidify.

On August 12, 2005, my new work Elegy will be premiered in Trujillo, Peru by the Trujillo Symphony Orchestra conducted by Jose-Luis Maurtua . This performance will open the concert wrapping up the second week of the 12th Annual Trujillo Bach Festival. I will be in residence there from August 8-12 and will be giving a couple of talks on my own music as well as transcriptions of J.S. Bach's works for modern orchestra. I am also delighted to precede the residency with a 10 day vacation with my family exploring the country including Machu Picchu and the Amazon River Basin.

I am looking forward to the release of the new and definitive recording of Sonata deus sax machina by Timothy McAllister and Kathryn Goodson. Tim, engineer John Junklaus and I finished editing the recording at the beginning of April. This exciting new cd will also include works by William Albright and Milton Babbitt as well as world premiere recordings of works by Roshanne Etezady and Misha Zupko. The cd titled American Saxophone will be released by Innova Records later this year. Stay tuned for details regarding its release.

By the way, congrats to Tim and Roshanne who will be married this weekend in Philadelphia. Right on!

On another note, I have recently been swamped with requests from performers to arrange some of my works for other ensembles. Interesting notions, some of them...The substitution of a viola for a clarinet (like Brahms), or a male voice for a range-and-timbre-specific female voice part to name a couple. Right now, I must say that my answer is invariably NO! and let me explain why. My works, especially those composed for specific individuals in mind, are written for specific instruments and invariably exploit techniques unique to that specific instrument and performer. Timbre is not irrelevant - it does matter in the overall conception of any work - especially in the 21st century. To change the instrumentation, therefore, would change the work. Now I do have a couple of works that I did conceive as being transportable from one ensemble to the next, but these works were written with various occasions in mind and were not necessarily commissioned to exploit specific techniques for specific performers. Therefore, I would suggest to all performers who are interested in performing new music: Commission new works! Do not commission old works! The excitement in performing new music should be to promote yourself through new works composed specifically for you.

04.30.05

It’s been quite a week around here. The Crane School of Music hosted a festival devoted to New Music for the Guitar at the beginning of the week featuring the great David Tanenbaum performing a mesmerizing recital featuring music by Terry Riley and Lou Harrison to name a couple. Doug Rubio gave the third performance of Sacred Profanity on Monday, the 25th - the best performance yet! An excerpt of this performance can be found on the Audio Page.

I am pleased to announce that my new work Elegy will be premiered in Trujillo, Peru by the Trujillo Symphony Orchestra conducted by Jose-Luis Maurtua on August 12, 2005. This performance will open the concert wrapping up the second week of the XII Annual Trujillo Bach Festival. I will be in residence there from August 8-12 and will be giving a couple of talks on my own music as well as transcriptions of J.S. Bach's works for modern orchestra. I am also delighted to precede the residency with a 10 day vacation with my family exploring the country including Machu Picchu and the Amazon River Basin.

I am currently working on a new piece for the Ara Saxophone Quartet and am looking forward to their Spring 2006 premiere here in Potsdam. The Birmingham, Alabama based Ara Saxophone Quartet consists of Meredith Warren, soprano saxophone; Jonathan Bergeron, alto saxophone; Allan Warren, tenor saxophone; and Aaron Pirl, baritone saxophone. They are a fantastic young group with an incredible repertoire.

I am working on a number of pieces, as usual, and will disclose details as they become more definite.

04.04.05

I returned yesterday from Pickman Hall in Boston, MA. Jill Pearon and Timothy McAllister presented the world premiere of 4 Vocalises on Saturday night, April 2. It was a fantastic performance on a concert also featuring music by Roshanne Etezady, John Morrison, Philippe LeRoux and others.

I also had a great time speaking at the American University Saxophone Symposium in Washington, DC on March 26. My talk featured the first-ever playing of the new recording of Sonata deus sax machina by Timothy McAllister and Kathryn Goodson. It was great to hear such an enthusiastic response to my work from a group of performers, but I must admit that the performances on the upcoming cd releases deserve much of the praise. Anyway, Tim, engineer John Junklaus and I finished editing the recording a couple of weeks ago. This exciting new cd will also include works by William Albright and Milton Babbitt as well as world premiere recordings of works by Roshanne Etezady and Misha Zupko. The cd titled American Saxophone will be released by Innova Records later this year. Again, stay tuned for details.

I am delighted to announce that my new work Elegy will be premiered in Trujillo, Peru by the Trujillo Symphony Orchestra conducted by Jose-Luis Maurtua on August 12, 2005. This performance will open the concert wrapping up the week-long Bach Festival in Trujillo. I will be in residence there from August 8-12 and will be giving a few talks on my own music as well as transcriptions of J.S. Bach's works for modern orchestra.

Upcoming performances include Douglas Rubio's third performance of my solo guitar work Sacred Profanity on April 24 at the New Music for Guitar Festival at the Crane School of Music.

I have begun work on a new work for the Ara Saxophone Quartet who commissioned a 15 minute work composed specifically for them. The Birmingham, Alabama based Ara Saxophone Quartet consists of Meredith Warren, soprano saxophone; Jonathan Bergeron, alto saxophone; Allan Warren, tenor saxophone; and Aaron Pirl, baritone saxophone. I heard them perform Scott McAllister’s concerto for saxophone quartet and winds X2 with the FSU Wind Orchestra at the Florida State University 12th Biennial Festival of New Music in February.

I anticipate the release of Deborah Bish's upcoming cd release for Mark Records. This recording will feature Clarikinetics, Sonata for clarinet and piano, Duo Sonata, and Mid-Winter Waking. Other performers on the disc include Patrick Meighan, Valerie Trujillo, and Wanda Brister. Stay tuned for details regarding its release.

I am working on a number of pieces, as usual, and will disclose details as they become more definite.

02.27.05

I just returned today from the Pendragon Theater in Saranac Lake, NY where Douglas Rubio gave the New York State premiere of my solo guitar work Sacred Profanity. Doug gave the world premiere of the work just last week at the Tennessee Guitar Festival in Murfreesboro, TN.

I am pleased to announce that the Ara Saxophone Quartet has commissioned me for a 15 minute work composed specifically for them. The Birmingham, Alabama based Ara Saxophone Quartet consists of Meredith Warren, soprano saxophone; Jonathan Bergeron, alto saxophone; Allan Warren, tenor saxophone; and Aaron Pirl, baritone saxophone. I heard them perform Scott McAllister’s concerto for saxophone quartet and winds X2 with the FSU Wind Orchestra at the Florida State University 12th Biennial Festival of New Music earlier this month. The performance was really great (and so was the piece, by the way). I am pleased to be working with them and know that the feeling is mutual.

Also featured at the Festival was an exciting and literally breathtaking performance of Clarikinetics by clarinetist Deborah Bish. Debbie gave the world premiere in July at the at the Festival de Inverno de Vale Veneto in Brazil and recorded the work for Mark Custom Records for a cd that will also include my Sonata for clarinet and piano, Duo Sonata, and Mid-Winter Waking. I anticipate the Spring 2005 release. Stay tuned for details.

Timothy McAllister and I are finishing up the details on his recording with Kathryn Goodson of the long awaited premiere recording of my Sonata deus sax machina which will be featured on their collection of American music for saxophone and piano. This exciting new cd will also include works by William Albright and Milton Babbitt as well as world premiere recordings of works by Roshanne Etezady and Misha Zupko. The cd titled American Saxophone will be released by Innova Records within the next year. Again, stay tuned for details.

The world premiere of 5 Vocalises for voice and alto saxophone has been postponed for personal reasons and will receive its world premiere on April 2, 2005 at the historic Pickman Hall in Boston, MA on a recital of music for voice and saxophone featuring Timothy McAllister and Jill Pearon. in Boston. Stay tuned for details.

I am working on a number of pieces, as usual, and will disclose details as they become more definite.

01.22.05

I have just completed 4 Vocalises for voice and alto saxophone which will receive its world premiere on March 5, 2005 at the Crane School of Music on a recital of music for voice and saxophone featuring Timothy McAllister and Jill Pearon. After the premiere, this recital will tour throughout New York and New England including an April 2, 2005 performance at Pickman Hall in Boston.

I am returning to Tallahassee in a couple of weeks for the Florida Sate University 12th Biennial Festival of New Music where Deborah Bish will present the U.S. premiere of Clarikinetics. Debbie gave the world premiere in July at the at the Festival de Inverno de Vale Veneto in Brazil and recorded the work for Mark Custom Records for a cd that will also include my Sonata for clarinet and piano, Duo Sonata, and Mid-Winter Waking. I anticipate the Spring 2005 release. Stay tuned for details.

The premiere of Sacred Profanity commissioned by Douglas Rubio will take place on February 13, 2005 at the Middle Tennessee State University Guitar Festival in Murfreesboro, TN. Sacred Profanity will also be featured as part of a festival for new guitar music on April 24-25, 2005 in Potsdam, NY.

Timothy McAllister and I will spend the next week or so mastering his recording (with the great Kathryn Goodson) of the long awaited premiere recording of my Sonata deus sax machina which will be featured on their collection of American music for saxophone and piano. This exciting new cd will also include works by William Albright and Milton Babbitt as well as world premiere recordings of works by Roshanne Etezady and Misha Zupko. The cd titled American Saxophone will be released by Innova Records within the next year.

I am working on a number of pieces, as usual, and will disclose details as they become more definite.

On another note, I was in New York City for a week earlier this month observing public school music classes with our scholar finalists for the Teach Music in New York City Project. It is a noble uphill battle for these students who want to make a difference by teaching urban children in a hurting school system. I witnessed some great teaching and some shameful teaching. But I always saw eager kids excited to listen, sing, play, and learn. My best wishes to them and to those who take it upon themselves to teach music in a needful school system. Visit the Teach Music in New York City website to read all about the project.

By the way, it’s kind of interesting updating a website while listening to a classic Met Opera broadcast - the February 25, 1967 Aida with Leontyne Price, Carlo Bergonzi, and the recently deceased Robert Merrill. 1967 radio (before I was born!) with 21st century technology... While I was in New York a couple weeks ago, we saw the closing night performance of Handel's Rodelinda with Rene Fleming, Stephanie Blythe, and David Daniels. Excellent production and stunningly beautiful music! It’s great for me to hear music I have never heard before (even if it is music of the past), especially in a live setting. My General observation, however, is that singing has certainly changed in the past 40 years, but I suppose that is a topic for my listening page...I'll get to that another time.

12.21.04

As 2004 ends, I am pleased to update my website with reflections on the past year and news for the future.

2004 saw quite a few premieres for me including Deborah Bish’s acclaimed performance of Clarikinetics at the Festival de Inverno de Vale Veneto, Brazil in July 2004 and speed metal organum blues by the The PRISM Saxophone Quartet at Symphony Space in New York City on November 19, and the Trinity Center for Urban Life in Philadelphia on November 20.

I spent a good deal of time in the studio over the summer with Timothy McAllister and Kathryn Goodson producing the long awaited premiere recording of my Sonata deus sax machina which will be featured on their collection of American music for saxophone and piano. This exciting new cd will also include works by William Albright and Milton Babbitt as well as world premiere recordings of works by Roshanne Etezady and Misha Zupko. The cd titled American Saxophone will be released by Innova Records within the next year.

I also finished a set of works for clarinet commissioned by Deborah Bish and joined her and a host of other musicians at The Florida State University School of Music in September to record a cd of my clarinet music (as well as others) to be released on Mark Custom Records in the Spring of 2005. This release will include my Sonata for clarinet and piano, Clarikinetics, Duo Sonata, and Mid-Winter Waking.

5 Vocalises for voice and alto saxophone with receive its world premiere on March 5, 2005 at the Crane School of Music on a recital of music for voice and saxophone featuring Timothy McAllister and Jill Pearon. After the premiere, this recital will tour throughout New York and New England including an April 5, 2005 performance at the Longy School of Music in Boston. Stay tuned for details.

I am working on a number of pieces, as usual, and will disclose details as they become more definite.